Waiting on You

Chapter 12

One year ago.

The school gym was booming. Lights streamed out of the windows, and teens walked in groups through the doors.

My hands shook so hard that I had to sit on them, which probably made me look strange, because Jacob was staring at me.

"Are you okay?" He looks genuinely concerned. We sat inside his car, swallowed by the darkness outside and our breathing.

I look up at him, brushing a piece of hair from my cheek. "Yeah, um, I'm fine."

He chuckles. "You don't look fine. Are you nervous?"

I look down at my hands, which I have now forced into my lap. "I just... Your so popular. No one is even going to know who I am."

He stares into my eyes. "Why does it matter? Do you even want them to know who you are?"

This question makes me stop and think. I didn't, did I. Maybe I just didn't like the thought of being so close to recognition, yet so far at the same time. Having Jacob next to me would make me a wannabe popular girl, not someone who deserves respect.

But, looking into his eyes, I knew that Jacob had good intentions and the right questions.

"I don't know," I respond truthfully. "I guess I'm fine with how I am now."

Jacob smiles at me, and this time it is not just friendly, but holds so many different emotions and meanings. "Then I won't change that for you."

In that moment, that perfect, wonderful moment was when I realized something. I had either just found the perfect boy or the most imperfect boy, because he didn't care about popularity but about the people he really cared about- and I got the feeling that one of them was me.

He brushed his shaggy hair, black as night away from his eyes, which I couldn't help but stare into as he leaned forward, closer to me.

My heart beat faster and faster as his face approached mine, goosebumps forming on my skin. Tingles crawled down my spine.

I must have been fidgeting too much because he pulled away slightly, and lifted his fingers to my chin. "Hold still," he whispered, bringing his lips closer to mine.

Time seemed to slow, but my pulse ran faster and faster. I leaned into him, ready for the next move, when I heard a knocking on the window.

We jumped. When I turned around I saw Tucker, standing in his suit and tie, wearing an irritated expression on his face. "Are you guys coming in?" He asked, his words muffled by the car windows.

From behind me, I hear Jacob sigh.

"Yeah," I answer. "We're coming right now."

Jacob hops out of his side of the car and jogs over to my door, and opens it. "You ready?"

I nod. "Yup."

When I look over at Tucker his hands are in his pockets and he is looking at his feet.

Jacob takes my arm and together we walk towards the gym, Tucker by our side.

My best friend is still staring at his toes, as if there were a secret message written on them. As we walk, I touch his arm, giving him a sweet smile. "You look great."

His cheeks flush. A silly grin forms on his lips and I can't help but laugh in return.

It was the truth, he did look great that night. I couldn't help but notice how he had worn contacts instead of glasses, which made his eyes look even more blue than usual.